World-building: 20 key questions

 

Asking yourself these questions will help you breathe life into your world. It can be tempting over-plan your world by filling out extensive questionnaires covering every detail you can possibly think of. My advice is to start with a few key questions to help you gather your ideas in one place. Details can always be added as you begin to write your first draft. 
 

The questions

 

For every question, ask yourself whether there are variations depending on continent, country, or region.

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1. Is your world a primary (set in the real world) or secondary (set in a fully imagined world) fantasy space?
    

2. What does our world look like? E.g. are there continents, countries, regions?
    

3. What is the climate like?
    

4. What is the history of your world?
    

5. Have there been any conflicts?
    

6. What lifeforms exist in your world? E.g. humans, animals, fantastical creatures…
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7. How large is the population of your world?
    

8. Does magic exist in your world?
    

9. If so, what form(s) does it take?
    

10. Is it a skill that must be learnt, or are your characters born with it?
     

11. How is magic conducted? Are there specific words or ‘tools’ (wands, staffs)?
     

12. What is the belief system?
     

13. Is there a political structure?
     

14. Is there a class system?
     

15. What do people eat?
     

16. How do people dress?
     

17. Are there particular professions (princess, swordsmith, wizard)?
     

18. What is the education system?
     

19. What languages are there?
     

20. How do people travel?